Meter casing



` CCL 26, 1937. M A, plxLEY 5r AL 2,096,857

METER CAS ING Filed May 27, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5y fame/ra ff. Meczoz/.

Oct. 26, 1937. M. A. PlxLEY ET AL 2,095,857

' METER CASING Filed May 27, 19:55 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 TIO/P17575 Patented Oct. 26, 1937 Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METER CASING Milton arixley and Edward H. McCloud, Columbus, Ohio Application May 27, 1935, Serial No. 23,620

1 Claim. (Cl. 247-2) This invention relates to meter casings. that any tampering with the case can be de- It is the object of the invention to provide a tected. casing for an electric meter, particularly an Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front electric meter for the measuring of current supelevation of the supplementary casing. Y l

5 plied to various types of establishments where Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof. 5'

it is desirable to have the usual metal and glass Figure 3 is a top plan view thereof. meter casing enclosed by a supplementary pro- Figure 4 is a bottom plan View thereof. tective casing to prevent the meter being tam- Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figpered with. ure l.

l Y It is the particular object of the invention to Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig- 10 provide a metal back and side Walls of the supure l.

plementary casing and a glass cover comprising Figure 7 is an inside elevation of the glass the front of the casing, which cover is struck-up cover of the supplementary casing. to form a spaced, partially transparent and par- Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figll tially translucent cover so that the dials of the ure looking in the direction of the arrows show- 15 meter may be read through the front of the glass ing the detailed arrangement of the lock.

cover of the casing, while the glass is so remote Figure 9 is a section on the line 9 9 of Figfrom the front of the meter that it is substanure 5 looking in the direction of the arrows. tially impossible for one who desires to drill the Figure 10 is a modified form of supporting the "gb glass and tamper with the meter to accomplish inner end of the attaching bolt 32. such an object. Figure 11 is another modified form of sup- One of the problems in the protection of meporting the inner end of the attaching bolt 32. ters is to prevent the meter being tampered Referring to the drawings in detail, I desig- With by the penetration of the glass. This is efnates a meter casing which is provided with a fected by a drill and a lubricant or cutting agent glass Window 2. The cables supplying the meter for the glass. By having the glass cover of the enter the meter through the conduit 3. This supplementary casing arranged so that it is remeter casing is enclosed within a casing conmote from the glass face of the inner casing of sisting of a metal back 4 having a flange 5 on the meter, it is impossible to apply the lubricant which is mounted a rectangular side Wall strucor cutting agent to the surface of the inner glass ture consisting of the sheets 6, 1, 8, and 9. The 3' on the inner meter casing. bottom wall 8 is punched to form a depending It is a further object to provide such a glass hasp I0 having a slot II. cover partially transparent and partially trans- The front of the casing is provided with a lucent so that adequate light is admitted to the glass body having a flange I2 at the top and sides interior of the supplementary casing to permit of which engages within the metal flanges I3 and the reading of the meter, but the translucent I4 011 the tOp and Sides 0f the Casingportion of the glass cover makes it more difficult This glass flange I2 is continued into an exfor anyone desiring to tamper with the meter tended diagonal portion I5 and a front porto observe the meter and its parts and determine tion I6. The interior of the glass is formed in how to tamper with them. a plurality of ribs I'I except in the area I8 which o It is a further object of this invention to prois left clear as an observation window, vide a ribbed glass cover with the ribs on the The bottom of the glass front is provided with interior of the glass to give the translucent effect an aperture I9 and a restricted throat 2li forming and to strengthen the glass, While at the same a'slot connecting the aperture I9 and the bottom time providing a limited area without ribs which edge 2l of the glass front. Mounted in this slot is is transparent. a locking plug consisting of a head 22 and a body It is a particular object to provide such a glass 23 having an arcuate slot 24 for receiving a glass cover that can be inserted Within the metal window 25 and a retaining ring 26. The head 22 flange of the supplementary casing. forms a shoulder for retaining the locking plate It is an additional object to provide a locking 2l between the plug and the glass wall of the 50 device of such character that when it is once front. The inner exterior end of the plug is locked and covered with a breakable cover, the formed with ratchet teeth 28 that are engaged lock can not be tampered with for the opening by a dog or retaining finger 29 mounted on the of the casing without the breaking of the cover, wall 8 forming the bottom of the casing. This and when once broken, it can not be restored, so plug is provided With a recess 3i) which is closed 55 0H by the glass plate 25 to cover the head 3| of the retaining rod 32. This rod 32 is threaded at 33 into the rear end of the plug. It is slotted to receive a screw driver as at S. The rear end of the plug is threaded at 35 within the retaining nut 36 that is welded to the rear wall 4 of the casing.

The plug locking plate 2 is slotted to receive the depending nger l. It is retained in position by the strap 3l and lead seal 38 which are associated with the slot Il in the finger l.

Assembly of the lock When the glass cover has been put into position, and the rod 32 has been screwed into the lug 36, the plug is inserted through the plate 2'! with its window 25 and retaining ring 26 in position and rotated so that it is threaded upon the thread 33 of the rod 32 until the several parts are clamped together. The strap 3l and lead seal 38 are then applied. The glass cover is held in position because its flange l2 is within the anges I3 and i4 of the metal casing.

Unlocking of the casing When it is desired to unlock` the casing, the Window 25 has to be broken. Then a screw driver is inserted in the slot 34 and the rod 32 rotated until it is detached from the nut or lug 36. The locking nut can therefore be removed. Then the strap 3l is separated and the parts are disassembled. Y

In practice, it has been found that those who tamper with meters employ a drill and a cutting agent or lubricant for the drill so as to be able to penetrate the glass tube. If this same operation is attempted to be performed on the glass cover of the supplementary casing, the cover being remote from the face 2, it is impossible for the person using the drill to apply the lubricant or cutting Y compound to the surface 2 and also apply the drill. Due to the restricted area of vision, it would only be an expert who would know enough about the meter to determine how to tamper with it due to the opening l confining the View of the meter to a portion of its face. By having the extended glass front, sucient light is diffused into the interior of the supplementary casing to permit of easy reading o1" the meter.

It will be understood that it is desired to comprehend within this invention such modifications as may be necessary to adapt it to varying conditions and uses.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

In combination, a meter casing having a dial front window, a protective metal casing surrounding said meter casing, the forward edges of the side walls of the protective casing being substantially in alignment with the forward face of the meter casing so as to substantially enclose the latter, and a forwardly projecting diffusing and light-directing glass-cover secured to the forward edges of the metal protective casing and composed of forwardly inclined side walls and a flat front ace spaced a substantial distance from the forward face of the meter casing, Ysaid flat front face being provided with a transparent glass window of. limited size located'directly in front of the dial window of the meter casing, whereby light is concentrated on the Vfront face of the MILTON A. PIXLEY. EDWARD H. McCLoUD. 

